Anode transport frame locking device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for locking an anode shaft into a transport frame comprising an idler wheel mounted for rotation on the transport frame, an eccentric wheel mounted for rotation of the transport frame, an eccentric wheel mounted for rotation of the transport frame in the same horizontal plane and opposite the idler wheel, and a stop plate fixedly attached to the eccentric wheel. As an anode shaft is lowered into the transport frame between the engaged eccentric wheel and idler wheel, the eccentric wheel is rotated by the downward movement of the shaft and exerts sufficient pressure against the shaft to had excessive downward movement. as the eccentric wheel rotates the stop late is rotated to a position directly in from of the anode shaft, thereby preventing any forward movement by the shaft.

July 31, H, COOK ET AL 3,749,661

ANODE TRANSPORT FRAME LOCKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1971 2 Sheets-SheetINVENTOR.

SAM 1. SMITH HENRY 5. 600K VAN C. W/L/(S lit 26527 M. AMA/E6194]ArrozuEv;

July 31, H s COCK ET AL moms TRANSPORT FRAME LOCKING DEVICE Filed Aug.4, 1971 v 2 SheetsSheet 2 United States Patent m 3 749 661 ANODETRANSPORT FRAME LOCKING DEVICE Henry S. Cook, 2941 Frederia St.,Owensboro, Ky. 42301, and Sam L. Smith, RR. 3, Lewisport, Ky. 42256Filed Aug. 4, 1971, Ser. No. 168,878 Int. Cl. C22d 3/12; B660 1/00 US.Cl. 204-286 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for lockingan anode shaft into a transport frame comprising an idler wheel mountedfor rotation on the transport frame, an eccentric wheel mounted forrotation on the transport frame in the same horizontal plane andopposite the idler wheel, and a stop plate fixedly attached to theeccentric wheel. As an anode shaft is lowered into the transport framebetween the engaged eccentric wheel and the idler wheel, the eccentricwheel is rotated by the downward movement of the shaft and exertssufficient pressure against the shaft to halt excessive downwardmovement. As the eccentric wheel rotates the stop plate is rotated to aposition directly in front of the anode shaft, thereby preventing anyforward movement by the shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a locking device ormechanism which enables a carbon anode, as used in aluminum reductioncells, to be securely locked into an anode transport frame.

In the aluminum reduction process, electrically conductive carbon anodescomposed of calcined petroleum coke aggregate and coal tar pitch binderare attached to metal shfts which are used in the pot-line operation.The shaft with an anode block attached is commonly placed on a frame forstorage "or for transport to various areas of the operation. The presentmethod of locking an anode shaft into a transport frame requiresnumerous, bulky, mechanically complex devices to secure the shaft intoposition.

Prior art anode transport frame locking devices generally consist of acomplex arrangement of sprockets and levers which activate a lockingmechanism having brake shoes with substantially smooth or serratedlinings, or serrated metal plates which hold the anode shaft inposition. These prior art locking devices are awkward and time consumingto activate, and the many moving parts require frequent maintenance. Thebrake shoe or serrated metal plates frequently do not exert enoughpressure to securely hold the anode shaft, resulting in anodes slippingor dropping, thereby causing damage to the anode, transport frame,and/or nearby machinery.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus whichmore readily and with less complexity locks an anode shaft into positionin an anode transport frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a less time consuming,more eificient apparatus for transporting carbon anodes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal elevation view ofthe anode transport frame and locking device.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the cam device.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the cam device showing the stop plate andcounter balance.

FIG. 4 is a sectioned view of the cam device.

FIG. 5 shows the shaft which anchors the cam device for rotation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring in more detail toFIG. 1, idler wheel 12 and cam device 13 are mounted for rotation onopposite sides 'of a space for an anode shaft, 24, in the samehorizontal plane on anode transport frame 11. A carbon anode block, 25,has indentions, 27, in its upper surface. Anode shaft 24 is attached toanode block 25 at indentions 27 by means of molten cast iron, babbit, orthe like, 28, being poured into indentions 27 around the lower ends ofshaft 24 and being allowed to solidify. A handle, 14, and cable orchain, 26, are movably attached to anode transport frame 11 and camdevice 13 in the vertical plane above the cam.

Referring to FIG. 2, which shows cam device 13 in more detail, withanode shaft 24 removed for clarity, stop plate 18 is fixedly attached toeccentric wheel 19. Eccentric wheel 19 is mounted for rotation on shaft15. Spacer 16 and bearing 17 are mounted on shaft 15 and allow eccentricwheel 19 to rotate with excessive friction.

FIG. 3 shows eccentric wheel 19 with stop plate 18 and counter balance20 attached thereto. A bushing, 21, is mounted between shaft 15 andeccentric wheel 19.

Referring to FIG. 4, the sectional view shows eccentric wheel 19 withstop plate 18 and counter balance 20 attached; shaft 15 has been removedand is shown inFIG. 5. Bushing 21 extends through stop plate 18 andeccentric wheel 19. A grease groove, 22, forms a circumferential groovein bushing 21.

FIG. 5 shows shaft 15 having interior grease passageway 23.

In the present invention eccentric wheel 19 is mounted on anodetransport frame 11 adjacent the resting position for anode shaft 24. Arectangular stop plate, 18, with beveled edges is mounted onto theeccentric wheel such that when the wheel. is turned the stop platerotates with it. As the eccentric wheel exerts sufficient pressure tohalt downward movement of anode shaft 24, stop plate 18 passes in frontof the frontal portion of anode shaft 24, as viewed in FIG. 1, therebypreventing forward movement of the shaft (i.e. towards the viewer inFIG. 1). The distance between eccentric wheel 19 and shaft 24 is of sucha tolerance that when engaged, wheel 19 exerts suflicient pressureagainst the shaft to prevent further downward movement. Counter balance20 is attached to eccentric wheel 19 in a position such that thedistance between wheel 19 and wheel 12 is the greatest when the counterbalance is at its lowest position, as shown in FIG. 1. The counterbalance retains the locking device in an open position when no anode isin the transport frame. One end of cable 26 is attached to counterbalance 20 which is welded to the side of eccentric wheel 19 oppositethe anode shaft. The other end of the cable has a handle, 14, attachedthereto by which one can manually pull counter balance 20 and therebycause eccentric wheel 19 to move on its axle shaft 15, into a positionwhere it touches anode shaft 24 thereby activating the locking device.As anode shaft 24 lowers into the transport frame, the eccentric wheelprogressively exerts increased pressure on the shaft, thereby haltingits downward movement and locking the shaft into place. When theeccentric wheel is in an open position handle 14 is placed in a restposition above the wheel, as shown in FIG. 1. 0n the opposite side ofthe anode shaft from the eccentric wheel is idler wheel 12 whichprevents the shaft from scraping against the side of the transportframe. The idler wheel freely rotates to the right or leftcorrespondingly to the movement of the anode shaft as the latter isbeing put into or taken out of transport frame 11. Spacer 16 and bearing17 allow eccentric wheel 19 to rotate without excessive friction betweenthe wheel and transport frame. A bushing, 21, between eccentric wheel 19and shaft 15 contains a grease groove, 22, for lubrication. Shaft 15contains a grease passageway, 23, whereby grease is directed to thegroove in the bushing. As the weight of anode 25 and shaft 24 pulldownward against the combination of engaged cam device and idler wheel,the pressure exerted by the cam against the shaft locks it intoposition. Thus anodes can be transported on the frame in a more secureposition with less complicated means of locking the shafts into place.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for transporting an electrically conductive anode shaftcomprising a transport frame having an idler wheel roatably mountedthereon, an eccentric wheel mounted on said frame and horizontallyspaced from said idler wheel so as to be adapted to receive a verticallydisposed anode shaft therebetween, a stop plate fixedly attached to saideccentric wheel and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to theaxis of rotation thereof, said stop plate extending beyond the peripheryof said eccentric wheel, means for rotating said eccentric wheel togrippingly engage an anode shaft disposed between said eccentric wheeland said idler wheel, and said stop plate extending toward said idlerwheel and in spaced relation from a portion of said frame to limitmovement of an anode shaft received therebetween when grippingly engagedbetween said eccentric wheel and said idler wheel.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a counter balance fixedlyattached to said eccentric wheel in a position such that the radius ofsaid eccentric wheel is smallest in the direction of said idler wheelwhen said counter balance is at its lowest position.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for rotatingincludes a chain attached at one end to said counter balance and at theother end to a handle such that said counter balance can be raised andsaid eccentric wheel rotated by lifting said chain.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said eccentric wheel ismounted on a shaft having a grease passageway.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a bushing having a greasegroove mounted between said shaft and said eccentric wheel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,540 4/1916 Merrill 24249 FPFOREIGN PATENTS 8,917 8/1909 Great Britain 294114 FREDERICK C.EDMUNDSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 204-279

